Amethi, Jan 23 (UNI) In a first reaction after the appointment of her sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as AICC general secretary in-charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, Congress president Rahul Gandhi claimed that the move would strengthen the INC in UP and bring his party forefront.
“I trust Priyanka and Jyotiraditya Scindia. We will not play on the backfoot," the Congress president told reporters here at Fursatganj.
Mr Scindia has been made AICC general secretary in-charge for western UP.
However, Mr Gandhi hinted that a “bigger” alliance can be formed in UP for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections to take on the BJP if SP-BSP agrees to talk to him.
“If SP and BSP want to talk to us for a big alliance in UP, then they are welcome to join us, there is no problem in it," Mr Gandhi said, adding that all, including Akhilesh Yadav and Mayawati, have similar mission of defeating the BJP.
The development comes after Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party, earlier this month, joined hands to form an alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in UP in general assembly elections.
“We still have door opens for larger alliance and anyone who can defeat the BJP is welcome,” Mr Gandhi said.
He said that by appointing both Priyanka and Jyotiraditya, the heavyweights of the INC, the party wants to change the political atmosphere in UP and the mindset of several who think that the grand old party has no plans for the largest state of the country.
Mr Gandhi said that the party has appointed both the leaders on “permanent” basis in UP and had not sent Priyanka and Jyotiraditya for just two months or till the LS polls ends.
“I have sent them to take Congress ideology forward in UP. Standing and fighting for the poor, youth and farmers, is INC’s ideology. Both Priyanka and Jyotiraditya are very capable and dynamic, and will surely take Congress forward in UP,” he asserted.
When asked if Priyanka will be contesting the LS polls, he said, “It’s up to Priyanka to take a decision.”
Meanwhile, UP Congress MLC and a close confident of Rahul and Priyanka, Deepak Singh hailed the decision of the party to appoint Priyanka and Jotiyraditya as the party’s new in-charge of UP.
“This strategy will work intensively in the LS polls as well as in next assembly polls in UP in 2022," Mr Singh claimed.

Meanwhile, Congress workers in Lucknow, Amethi and Rae Bareli along with other parts of the state celebrated with much fanfare on the appointment of Priyanka as the in charge of eastern UP.
The workers distributed sweets, busted crackers and danced at the state Congress headquarters in Lucknow and INC’s office in Amethi and Rae Bareli.
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